Article

Pilates exercise is often undertaken by people with multiple
sclerosis (MS) who have balance and mobility difficulties. The
primary aim of the study was to compare the effects of 12 weeks of Pilates
exercises with relaxation on balance and mobility. Secondary aims were: (1) to
compare standardized exercises with relaxation and (2) to compare Pilates
exercises with standardized exercises. METHODS:
A multicenter, assessor-blinded,
randomized controlled trial was conducted. Participants with Expanded Disability
Status Scale scores of 4.0 to 6.5 were randomly allocated to groups receiving 12
weeks of Pilates exercises, standardized exercises, or relaxation. Assessments
were undertaken at baseline and weeks 12 and 16 (primary outcome measure:
10-Meter Timed Walk Test [10MTW]).
RESULTS: One hundred participants (mean age=54
years, 74% female) were randomized to study groups.
Six participants relapsed
(withdrew from the study), leaving 94 participants for intention-to-treat
analysis. There was no significant difference in mean 10MTW measurements between
the Pilates and relaxation groups. At 12 weeks, there was a mean reduction of 4.2
seconds for the standardized exercise group compared with the relaxation group
(95% confidence interval [relaxation group minus standardized exercise group
measurements]=0.0, 8.4) and a mean reduction of 3.7 seconds for the Pilates group
compared with the standardized exercise group (95% confidence interval [Pilates
group minus standardized exercise group measurements]=-0.4 to 7.8). At 16 weeks,
mean 10MTW times for the standardized exercise group remained quicker than those
for the Pilates and relaxation groups, although the differences were
nonsignificant. There were no significant differences between the Pilates and
relaxation groups for any secondary outcome measure. LIMITATIONS: In this study,
therapists were limited to a standardized basket of exercises that may have
affected the study outcomes. Furthermore, choosing measures such as posturography
to assess balance, accelerometry to assess walking, or a specific trunk
assessment scale might have been more responsive in detecting changes in outcome.
CONCLUSION: Participants did not improve significantly, either in the short term
or at the 4-week follow-up, on the 10MTW after 12 weeks of Pilates exercises
compared with 12 weeks of relaxation.
CI - (c) 2016 American Physical Therapy Association.

Langue : ANGLAIS